Archbald downs Green Ridge, captures District 32 Little League crown

JASON FARMER / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Archbald’s Chase Combs connects for a two-run home run Wednesday night against Green Ridge. Archbald won the District 32 championship with a 6-1 victory.

JASON FARMER / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Archbald pitcher Chase Combs (99) is tackled by teammates after striking out the final batter against Green Ridge in the District 32 Little League championship game. Combs also homered and doubled in the 6-1 victory Wednesday.

ARCHBALD — Chase Combs was the catalyst his team needed Wednesday.

Combs’ RBI-double in the second inning tied the game and his home run in the fourth put it out of reach as Archbald won its second consecutive District 32 Little League championship with a 6-1 victory over Green Ridge at Archbald Little League Complex.

Archbald advances to the Section 5 tournament, which begins Saturday.

“I’m extremely proud of these boys,” Archbald manager George Black said. “It’s a wonderful, wonderful experience that they’re providing for us. They’re a dedicated bunch of boys. They never complain and they come to work every day.”

Archbald got off to a shaky start, however. With runners on first and second in the top of the first, Jason Ardan hit a sharp grounder to second base. Archbald got the force out but the throw to first to try and get the double play was wide, allowing Ian Ciocca to score and give Green Ridge a 1-0 lead.

But Archbald pitcher Dylan Howanitz got a strikeout to end the inning.

Archbald threatened in the home half of the inning, loading the bases. However, Green Ridge starting pitcher Thomas Kennedy induced a pop fly to second base to get out of the inning unharmed.

Howanitz rode his momentum into the second inning, striking out the side on 10 pitches. With two outs in the bottom of the inning, Nick Tomassoni singled to center field to bring up Combs, who ripped a double to right field to tie the game.

Then Dixon Black connected on a 2-1 pitch for a two-run home run to right center field to give Archbald a 3-1 lead.

Archbald continued to use the long ball in the third, as pinch-hitter Ryan Turlip connected on a two-out, 1-2 delivery for a solo homer to increase his team’s lead to 4-1.

“Ryan’s been hitting the ball well in batting practice,” Black said. “I figured we would give him a chance. I just had a feeling that he was going to do something.”

In the top of the fourth, Ardan got on with a single and Noah Leety followed with a double to bring the tying run to the plate with one out. But Howanitz, who had nine strikeouts, came back strong, getting a strikeout and lineout to end Green Ridge’s biggest threat of the game.

“Dylan’s got fire in his eyes from the moment we go forward,” Black said. “He never backs down. If runners get on, he just bears down even more.”

Combs then came up in the bottom of the inning and put the game away for good, blasting a two-run shot over the left center field wall to put his team ahead by five.

Howanitz struck out back-to-back batters to begin the fifth. Then Combs came on in relief to try and get the game’s final four outs. It was never in doubt as he got three groundball outs — all back to him — and a strikeout to end the game and start a celebration at the pitcher’s mound.

“This feels really good,” Combs said. “Overall, we fielded the ball well and put the ball in play. At the end of the game, I just wanted to throw strikes, be confident and help my team get the victory.”

Contact the writer:

shennigan@timesshamrock.com

Green Ridge Archbald

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Ciocca 2b 3 1 2 0 Combs ss-p 3 2 2 3

Stallman ss 3 0 0 0 Black 2b 1 1 1 2

TKennedy p-1b 2 0 0 0 Boyle 1b 2 0 0 0

Ardan 1b-p 3 0 1 0 Howantz p-ss 3 0 0 0

Leety 3b 3 0 1 0 Sheridan 3b 2 0 0 0

Foley rf 1 0 0 0 O’Connor lf 1 0 0 0

BLynett rf 1 0 0 0 Turlip ph 2 1 1 1

JLynett c 2 0 0 0 Cesarini cf 2 0 0 0

PKennedy rf 1 0 0 0 Carmadella ph 1 0 0 0

Maro rf 1 0 0 0 Stafursky c 1 0 0 0

Grady lf 1 0 0 0 DeCarli ph 1 1 1 0

James lf 1 0 0 0 Tomassoni rf 1 1 1 0

Kovalchik ph 1 0 0 0

Totals 22 1 4 0 Totals 21 6 6 6

Green Ridge 100 000 — 1

Archbald 031 20x — 6

2B: Leety, Combs. HR: Black, Turlip, Combs.

Green Ridge IP H R ER BB SO

T. Kennedy, LP 3.1 6 6 6 3 1

Ardan 1.2 0 0 0 1 4

Archbald IP H R ER BB SO

Howanitz, WP 4.2 3 1 0 0 9

Combs 1.1 1 0 0 0 1

District 32 Junior League baseball

Marc Waller had two hilts as Lakeland captured the championship with a 3-2 win over Green Ridge/Central City.

Hunter Snyder earned the win on the mound.

Jonathon Knight doubled for Green Ridge/Central City.

Lakeland advances to the Section 5 tournament, which begins Monday.

District 17 Junior League softball

Winning pitcher Sierra Santarsiero fired a one-hitter with eight strikeouts as Old Forge captured the championship with a 10-0 win over Christy Mathewson.

Reilly Ruane and Abigail Rushefski each had three hits for the winners, Keirstan Breig doubled and Alexander Nocera had two hits.

Ashley Clarke had the lone hit for Christy Mathewson.

Old Forge advances to the Section 5 tournament, which will begins Wednesday.

District 32 10-11 baseball

T.J. Noto tossed a complete game with nine strikeouts to lead Archbald to a 10-0 win over Wallenpaupack in the winners’ bracket final.

Jake Barrett led the offense with a three-run home run.

Dieter Burckes had three strikeouts for Wallenpaupack, which will host Green Ridge in the elimination final today at 5:30 p.m.

District 17 Junior League baseball

Chase Cacioppo and Dilano Sheodial each had two hits to lead South Scranton to a 10-8 win over Dunmore in an elimination game.

Camerern Jordon earned the win.

Rich Grippi had two hits for Dunmore.

South Scranton will play Old Forge today at 5:30 p.m. at Battaglia-Cawley Field.

District 17 9-10 baseball

Nico Ruggerio had three hits to lead Dunmore to a 9-5 win over South Scranton in an elimination game.

Luke Pica had two hits, including a home run, for Dunmore and Jeffrey Walsh earned the win on the mound.

Jason Shields had three hits for South Scranton.

Dunmore will host North Pocono in an elimination game today at 5:30 p.m.

Abington National 7West Scranton 5

At Dunmore, Dylan Vaughn had two hits to lead Abington National in the winners’ bracket final.

Matthew Tressler earned the win on the mound.

Cayden Merrifield tripled for West Scranton.

Section 5

Senior League softball

Dominique Quaglia fired a three-hitter and Mindina Lieback paced the offense with three hits, including two doubles, and three RBIs as Jenkins Township knocked off Christy Mathewson, 5-0.

Mia Barbieri added a pair of hits for Jenkins Township.

Aimee Melnicoff had two his for Christy Mathewson and Sarah Weisenfluh added the other.

The teams meet again today at 5:30 p.m. at Christy Mathewson. A second game would follow if Christy wins the first game.

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